The focus for the week 9th - 13th November was geared towards the importance of spelling in the writing process and how writing develops.

    Spelling is important because it aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between sounds and letters. A teacher who is aware of students spelling development can use this knowledge to plan for instruction. Having students write frequently and freely can aid in their growth in spelling. Teaching young spellers the strategies, rules and concepts to grow their spelling and vocabulary knowledge benefits them in all aspects of their learning, as well as in their everyday life. Students who feel confident with letters and word patterns are able to read and comprehend more complex texts. They also have the necessary language tools to better convey their own ideas through both written and verbal communication. The relationship between written words and sounds can seem difficult for many students. But building a strong foundational knowledge of the links between forms, letters, sounds and meaning is essential for students to become confident communicators.

    After reading the article I am now aware of the stages that one must undergo to develop their writing skills. The first stage is the scribbling/drawing stage. This is the stage where students use their scribbles and drawings to start their writing process. When a child grasps the pencil or crayon to scribble he or she is exploring their ideas and thoughts. The next stage involves letter-like forms and shapes. Children's writing begins to develop at this stage .Students begin to understand that symbols are used in writing to convey meaning. The next stage is called letters. At this stage students begin to recognize random letters. The next stage involves letters and spaces. When a child is able to point to individual words on a page when reading, and works to match their speech to a printed word their concept of word is developing. The final stage is called the conventional writing and spelling. At this stage children spell most words correctly, with a reliance on phonics knowledge to spell longer words. Writers use punctuation marks correctly and use capital and lower case letters in the correct places. 

It is important to remember that children will go through these stages of writing at different periods.

Below are the links for further details on what was discuss throughout the blog

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-writing-develops

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/invented-spelling-and-spelling-development